Gauge mechanism for stapling machines



Jan. 18,1927. 1,614,911

H. G. ALLEN GAUGE MECHANISM FOR sTAPmNG MACHINES F'iled April 9. 1924Patented Jan. 18, 1927.

LIMITEE Pil-*FEET OFFICE.

HOWARD Gr. ALLEN, OF NEAGAEA FALLS, lllll YORK, iSSlC-"NR TO THE J'. L.MOR- RSON COMPANY, INC., F AT'JAGARA FALFJS, l'EVt' YORK, A COR'EORATIONOF NEW YORK.

GAUGE ICEEHANISM FOR STAPLING IVIACHNES.

Application filed April 9,

rlhis invention relates to a gauge mechanism for wire stapling orstitching machines and has for its objects the production of a gaugemechanism for machines of this character which permits of stitchingboxes at the corners thereof and which can be readily adapted todefinitely locating either one stitch, or two stitches, and also permitof applying extra. stitches between two definitely spaced stitches, andwhich can be readily adjusted for stitching boxes of differentklongitudinal movement of the gauge mechanism. Figures and 6 are Asimilarviews showing another way of controlling the movement of the gaugemember. Figure 7 is a cross section taken on the correspondinglynumbered line in Fig. 2. Figure 8 is a longitudinal section taken online 8 8, Fig. 1, on an enlarged scale.

Similar characters of reference indicate like parts throughout theseveral views.

The stapling or stitching mechanism shown in the drawings, as an exampleof the machine on which my impro-ved gauge mechanism is capable ofbeing'used, comprises a standard 10, a. supporting arm 11 projectingforwardly from said standard, a clincher box 12 mounted on the front endof said arm and containing the mechanism whereby the staple driventhrough the box is clinched on its under side, a supporting head 13arranged above the supporting arm, and a staple forming and drivingmechanism 14; mounted on the head above the clincher box and adapted toform staples from a supply of wire and drive the same through the boxfrom the outer side of the same.

The upper side of the clincher box and the supporting arm areconstructed upwardly pointing V-form in cross section so as to form aseat or saddle of this shape on which the corner of a box to be stayedor 1924. Serial No. 705,369.

` stapled is adapted to rest. This box for example may consist of fourwalls 15 forming a rectangular enclosure and a bottom 16 connected withthe lower ends of the side walls.

riihe gauge mechanism associated with this stapling mechanism andcontaining my invention is constructed as follows:

rliwo longitudinal side bars are arranged lengthwise along the lowerparts of the opposite inclined sides of the saddle or seat formed by theclincher box and supporting arm. Each of lthese bars is preferablyconstructed Vof angular form in cross section and has one of its outeror upper flanges 18 arranged parallel with the' respective side of thesaddle and sliding therein and its inner or lower flange 19 projectingdownwardly from the upper edge of the upper flange and sliding in alongitudinal groove 2O in the adjacent part of the supporting arm.Mounted on the front ends of the sliding bars is a front transverseplate 21 which is of rectangular form and arran ed with two of its sidesconverging upward y to a point and arranged parallel with the upwardlyconverging sides of the clincher box' and the supporting arm.

The rear ends of the side bars are connected by an upwardly pointingV-shaped cross piece 22 which extends over the rear part of thesupporting bar and has its'sides parallel therewith.

The side bars, front plate and rear cross piece, in effect form acarrier, frame or rack which is slidable horizontally forwardly andbacliwardly on the supporting arm.

Upon this carrier or frameis mounted a gauge which is preferablyconstructed in the form of a wing 23 having a recess 24 in its uppercentral part which receives the supporting arm and permits of extendingthe lower part of the wing transversely underneath the supporting armVand extending its opposite end portions upwardly along opposite sides ofsaid arm, as shown in Fig. 3. rlhis gauge may be detachably connectedwith the side bars so as to be capable of longitudinal adjustmentthereon by any suitable means, those shown in Figures 2 and 3 beingpreferred and consisting of two brackets `25 secured to the rear side ofthe upwardly projecting end portions of the gauge wing and overlappingthe adjacent parts of theV sliding bars, two clamping plates 26 eacharranged with its outer end below one of the brackets 25 and engagingits upper end with the underside of the upper liange of the adjacentsliding bar, as shown in Fig. 3, a. dowel 27 connecting the lower end oieach clamping plate and the adjacent part of the respective bracket, anda clamping screw 28 connecting the central part ot each clamping plateand the adjacent bracket. By this means the gauge wing can be readilyand easily adjusted lengthwise on the sliding :trarne to suit diiierentheights of boxes which are to be stayed and it also permits of quicklyand conveniently changing one gauge plate for another of a diiiferentsize to suit the diameter of the boxes which are being stayed by meansot staples.

Means are provided for controlling the position ot the gauge trame onthe supporting arm and retaining the same 1n fixed position thereon,also permitting the same to reciprocate lengthwise, and also to provideadjustable stops for limiting the forward and backward movement of thesliding frame and gauge wing at aredetermi'ned points to suit thelocation where it is desired to apply the staples to the corners oi' theboxes.

ln the preferred torni the means 'for thus controlling` the position ofthe sliding 'traine are constructed as follows:

The numeral 29 represents a clip secured to one part of the cross pieceoi" the sliding 'traine by means otl a scr-ew 23() and provided with a.depending tappet 3l which moves lengthwise in a longitudinal groove 82formed in the top of one ot the sloping sides ot the supporting arm.Tl-.. appet may either be cnf-aged on itstrent and rear sides by fr itanu rear stop hloclzs 33, 3, secured in the 'oue "-2 ,ir hoidine thegauge trame agniinst longitudinal movement or hese stop blocks r besecured in th's groove a a distance :"m each other thus permit the gauge'trame to have longitudinal inoveme" he tappei alternatelyv un. For thispurpose clanrl i which pass throi i adapted to cnI one or threaded openiI -(i arranl in a longitudinal row in the bottom oi" tl ro/ove.

For the purpose ot accurately locating the places where the gauge wingcornes to resit at the front and rear ends oit' its longitudinalmovement and also to permit ot a certain degree of reiinement inadjusting these stopping places to enable the staples to be located ator substantially at the desired places on the boxes the openings 36 inthe supporting arms are spaced equidistant, say one-half inch apart, andeach stop block is made of a delinite length, say seven-eighths of aninch, and provided with two openings 37. 38 which are spaced apart, sayonequarter inch, and arranged different disand are .ier pair ol -i l'eprovided tances Jrom opposite ends of the respective block, say theopening 37 is arranged onequarter inch from one end of the stop blockand the other opening three-eighths ott an inch from the other end or"this biock. lt. follows trom this construction that a coarse adjustmentozt each bloclr be eiiected on the supporting arm by shitting the screw35 from one arm opening` 36 to another which permits of halt' inchstops. By securing the stop block with the screw passing through theshort end of the respective block and presenting the long end ot thesame to the tappet the gauge trame will be arrested live-eighths of aninch from the respective arm opening as shown in Figures 5 and 8. it itis now desired to obtain a finer adjustment this can be accomplished byshitting the screw from the near opening 37 to the tar opening 38 asshown in Figure 4l, thereby shifting the block toward the respectivesecuring opening in the arm to the extent o one quarter oi an inch sothat now that long nd of the stop is only three-eighths ol an inch fromthe securing opening in the arm. Upon reversing the stop block end forend and securing the same b y passing the screw through either the rearopening 37 in the short end thereof or through the 'ar opening 38 in thclong end thereof the tappet may arrest either one-quarter inch oronehait' or an inch from the respective screw opening` 3G in the suAporting arm. rihese means permit a comparatively line adjustmen, saydown to one-eighth of an inch, to be obtained `tor arresting the gaugeframe in its forward und baci-:ward movement to suit the desiredlocation ot the staples on the bon the use ol' onlyv two stop blocks.

Yille tappet i1; preferably made oit a thickeipial to the iinestadjustment possible, in this V'ase one-eighth o'f an inch, whichpti-mits both stop blocks to be secured to the sippiirti arm with thetappet confined between them efrainst movement in either dion shown in-Eig, G, thereby permitop blocks to also serve Jfor holding ga :ge rameinimovably in one position when enit7 one staple is to be applied in a iplace on the box. vWhen the gauge is niorably mounted on the supportithe saine is yieldingly held in its forward position with its tappetengaging with the iront stop block by means of a spring 39 connectingthe cross piece of the sliding gauge trame with the supporting iead otthe staple :t'orming and driving mechanism. rl`his spring issutliciently strong to hold the gauge carrier or frame and its gaugewing suiiiciently rigid in a torward position to permit the operator togauge the boiagainst the front side of' the gauge wing and the frontplate by the ordinary movements ot the hand but will readily yield whenthe operator exerts a delib llO Cil

erate pressure at will backwardly against the box on the sliding frame.

The operation of stapling boxes by this gauging mechanism is as follows:

Preparatory to operating the machine a gauge wing of dimensions suitablefor the diameter of the box to be stapled is selected and mounted on thecarrier or sliding frame at a distance from the front transverse plateequal to the depth or height of the box. The front stop block is nowsecured to the supporting arm in such a position that the forwardmovement of the carrier will be arrested when that part of the boxcorner intended to receive the uppermost or front staple is verticallyin line with the staple forming, driving and clinching mechanism, andthe rear stop is so located on the supporting arm that the rearwardmovement of the carrier will be arrested when that part of the boxcorner intended to receive the lowermost or rear staple is vertically inline with the staple forming, driving and clinching mechanism. Aftersuch adjustments have been made the carrier when free will be movedforwardly and held yieldingly in its foremost position by the shiftingspring. The operator now places a box with its opened end over thecarrier and the front end of the supporting arm and with the front edgeof its walls engaging the gauge wing and its bottom engaging thetransverse front plate. The spring is sufficiently stiff so that whenthe box is pressed lightly against the gauge wing and front plate of thecarrier the spring will offer enough resistance so that this gauge wing`and plate are practically immovable at this time. lVhile the carrier isin this position the box gauged therein presents the foremost part ofits corner to the stapling mechanism so that a staple may be appliedthereto. Upon applying su'liicient backward pressure against the box andcarrier to overcome the resistance of the spring the carrier and box canbe pushed backwardly until the same are arrested by the rear stop andthereby presenting the rearmost part of the box corner to the staplingmechanism for applying` a staple thereto. If the box corner is to bestapled at one or more places between the front and rear stapling placesthe carrier can be manipulated manually for bringing the box corner tothe desired places at any time that the operator chooses.

It will thus be clear that the position of the front and rear staple isdefinitely determined by tbe front and rear stops but that the positionof the intermediate staple or staples is indeterminate and depends uponthe skill of the operator for locating them properly. When the staplingis completed and the operator removes the back pressure against thecarrier the same is returned to its foremost position by the spring.

If the box is to receive only one staple the gauge frame or carrier canbe rigidly held on the supporting arm by so fastening the end stops tothe supporting arm that the tappet is confined against longitudinalmovement therebetween, thus bringing each box when placed on the gaugeframe in the proper position to receive the staple at the place desired.

Owing to the facility with which the boxes can be gauged in thedifferent positions where the same are intended to receive staples andthe means for definitelv locating the extreme staples it is possible toeffect such work rapidly and easily and to obtain an out-put withoutundue strain or attention on the part of the operator thereby expeditingwork and rendering the same easier and also enabling the cost ofproduction to'be ma terially lowered, as well as ensuring uniformity andsuperiority in the work.

cl aim as my invention l. A gauge mechanism for a box staplingmachine'having a stapling mechanism and a supporting arm upon which thebox is supported while being stapled, comprising a carriermovablelengthwise on said arm and having a transverse bearing surface at itsfront end which is adapted to be engaged hy the bottom of the box and atransverse gauge member in rear of said bearing surface which is adaptedto be engaged by the upper edge of the box.

Q. A gauge mechanism for a box stapling machine having a staplingmechanism and a supporting arm provided on its opposite sides withlongitudinal grooves, comprising a box carrier having two longitudinalbars each having a depending flange sliding lengthwise in one of saidgrooves, a cross piece connecting the rear ends of said bars, atransverse plate connecting the front ends of said bars and adapted tobe engaged by the bottom of the box, and a transverse gauge member'mounted on said bars in rear of said front .plate and adaptedto beengaged by the upper edge of the box. 'A

A gauge mechanism for a box stapling machine having a stapling mechanismand a supporting arm provided on its opposite sides with longitudinalgrooves, comprising a box carrier having two longitudinal bars eachhaving a, depending flange sliding lengthwise in one of said grooves, across piece connecting the rear ends of said bars, a transverse plateconnecting the front ends of said bars and adapted to be engaged by thebottom of the box, a transverse gauge wing arranged in rear of saidfront plate and adapted to be. engaged by the upper edge of the box, andmeans for adjustably connecting said wing with said bars consistlng ortwo brackets arranged on said wing and adapted to engage the upper sidesof said bars, clamping plates each engaging its inner end with theunderside ol: one 'of said bars, dowel pins each arranged in the outerend oi'l a clamping plate and the adjacent bracket, and clamping boltseach connecting the central part of one clamping plate with the adjacentpart of the respective bracket.

4l. A gauge mechanism for a box stapling machine having a staplingmechanism and a supporting arm provided with a longitudinal groove,comprising a box carrier movable lengthwise on said arm, a tappetmounted on said carrier, and front and rear stop blocks arranged in saidgroove and adjustable lengthwise therein and adapted to be engaged bysaid tappet tor limiting the for ward and backward movement of saidcarrier.

A gauge mechanism for a box stapling machine having a stapling mechanismand a supporting arm provided with a longitudinal groove and alongitudinal row ot threaded openings in said groove, comprising a boxcarrier movable lengthwise on said arm, a tappet mounted on saidcarrier, front and rear stop blocks arranged in said groove andadjustable lengthwise therein and adapted to be engaged by said tappetfor limiting the forward and backward movement of said carrier, andtastening screws arranged in said blocks and adapted to engagedill'erent ones of said threaded openings.

6. A gauge mechanism for a box stapling machine having a staplingmechanism and a supporting arm provided with a longitudinal groove and alongitudinal row oi threaded openings in said groove, comprising a boxcarrier movable lengthwise on said arm, a tappet mounted on saidcarrier, front and rear stop blocks arranged in said groove andadjustable lengthwise therein and adapted to be engaged by said tappetfor limiting the forward and backward movement o' said carrier, andfastening screws arranged in said blocks and adapted to engagediii'crent ones of said threaded openings, each ot said blocks having aplurality or openings arranged diii'erent distances from opposite endsof the same and adapted to receive the respective fastening screw.

7. A gauge mechanism :tor a box stapling machine having a staplingmechanism and a supporting arm provided with a longitudinal groove and alongitudinal row of threaded openings in said groove, comprising a boxcarrier movable lengthwise on said arm, a tappct mounted on saidcarrier, iront and rear stop blocks arranged in said groove andadjustable lengthwise therein and adapted to be engaged by said tappetfor limiting the forward and backward movement or said carrier, and'fastening screws arranged in said blocks and adapted to engagediiierent ones of said threaded openings, each ot said blocks adapted tobe reversed so that either ot' its ends forms a stop surface.

8. A gauge mechanism for a box stapling machine having a staplingmechanism and a supporting arm provided with a longitudinal groove and alongitudinal row of threaded openings in said groove, comprising` a boxcarrier movable lengthwise on said arm, a tappet mounted on saidcarrier, front and rear stop blocks arranged in said groove andadjustable lengthwise therein and adapted to be engaged by said tappetfor limiting the Yforward and backward movement ot said carrier, andfastening screws arranged in said blocks and adapted to engagedilfierent ones oi: said threaded openings, each oi' said blocks adaptedto be reverscd'so that either of its ends forms a stop surface and eachoi' said blocks having openings arranged different distances fromopposite ends thereoiAl and adapted to receive the respective fasteningscrew.

9. A gauge mechanism Jfor a box stapling machine having a lstaplingmechanism and a supporting arm provided with a longitudinal groove,comprising a box carrier movable lengthwise on said arm, a tappetmounted on said carrier, and front and rear stop blocks arranged in saidgroove and adjustable lengthwise therein and adapted to be engaged bysaid tappet for limiting the rorward and backward movement of saidcarrier and a spring connecting said carrier with a relativelystationary part of the machine and operating to hold the carrieryieldingly in its forward position.

ln testimony whereoi1 l aliix my signature.

HOlVARD G. ALLEN.

